Traveling rocking-horse.



S. SPAIN. TRAVELING ROCKING HORSB.' v I APPLICATION rum) mm, 10, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Arron-mew PATENTED .JULY 14, 1908.

PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

S.SPAIN. v TRAVELING ROCKING HORSE.

APPLICATION rump FEB-10. 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

raw:

SYLVESTER SPAIN, OF BENSON MINES, NEW YORK.

TRAVELING ROCKING-HORSE.

Application filed February 10, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Serial No. 415,153.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER SPAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benson Mines, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traveling RockingHorses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rocking-horses designed for the amusement of children, and the invention relates particularly to a toy or plaything of the class known as traveling rocking-horses.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device or toy which, at the will of the rider, may be operated as a simple rocking-horse, or as a traveling vehicle; a further object of the invention is to provide a traveling rocking-horse which may be guided or steered either to the right or left, without dismounting or requiring alteration or adjustment of any of the parts of the'device, and a further object is to provide a rockinghorse of the class which is simple, durable, inexpensive and attractive.

The invention consists principally in providing a horse or animal figure, the body of which is preferably arranged in two parts, and joining these parts by means of a simple pivot, and then mounting each of said parts upon a separate pair of rockers, the rear set of rockers arranged parallel to each other, the front set of rockers arranged oblique to each other, having their inner ends spaced closer together than the outer ends, and the front rockers adapted to telescope or work back and forth between the rear rockers, the disposition of the rockers being such that the front and rear sets at all times are overlapped.

The invention further consists in providing a saddle and adjustably mounting the same upon the front'part of the horse in such manner that the weight of the rider will effect A and control the movement of the forward part of the animal on the pivot independent of the rear part.

The invention further consists in providing a flexible joint and disposing the same between two sections of the front part of the body in a manner to permit the turning of the horses head, front legs and the front rockers laterally, either to the right or left, and thereby cause the animal when rocked, to travel out of a straight course.

The invention further consists in providing simple means for alternately locking the two body parts in extended position, and for releasing the same, during the interval that the device is used as a traveling rocking-horse, and the invention further consists in providing in a simple manner for setting and holding the horse in extended position and thus convert the same into a simple rockinghorse.

Other features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detail description which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, with portions broken away, showing the construction and arrangement of the principal parts of the device; also showin the rear rockers tilted backward and resting on the floor, while the front part of the horse and front rockers are elevated and stretched forward away from the rear parts also showing the locking parts in position to hold the parts extended until the device is rocked forward. Fig. 2. is a side elevation, showing the device after having been rocked forward, the front rockers bearing on the floor, the rear rockers elevated;

also showing the locking arts released to allow the rear part of the orse to swing forward and close up with the front part, as when travelin also showing by dotted lines the unchange position and relation of all of the parts of the device except the locking parts. Fig.3. is a side elevation, showing the two body parts of the device closed up after having completed a step or stride forward; also showing by parts broken away the altered position and relation of the workin parts. Fig. 4. is a plan view, showing in ful ines the device closed up as in Fig. 3; also showing by full and dotted lines the device extended as in Fig. 1 also showing by dotted lines the manner of swinging the horses head and front parts for the purpose of steering the animal either to the right or to the left when traveling. Fig. 5. is a central crosssection of the saddle, substantially on the line 5-5. of Fig. 3, showing the manner of attaching the same to the back of the horse. Fig. 6. is a central longitudinal section of the saddle, substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the means for adjusting the same to different positions. Fig. 7. is an elevation of the parts em loyed for locking and holding the main bo y parts in extended position. Fig. 8. is a plan view of the locking parts, showing in full lines the position of the parts when employed for holding the body sections extended and releasing the same when the device is traveling; also showing by dotted lines the manner of adjusting and setting the locking parts to hold the body parts extended while the device is used as a simple rocker.

Similar characters of reference are assigned to corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings, 2 represents the front part of the body of the horse, to which are attached the front legs 3 and 4.

5 represents an extension of the part 2 which is joined to the latter by hinges 6 to provide a flexible oint to permit the horses ead to be swung either to the right or left, when traveling.

7 represents the rear part of the body of the horse, which preferably consists of right and left side parts 8 and 9, each including a hind leg, and a central part or spacer 10 which occupies the rear half of the space between the sides 8 and 9, leaving a hollow space or cavity 11 in the front end of rear part 7. The spacer 10 is preferably a trifle thicker than the front parts 2 and 5 and serve to hold the parts 8 and 9 a sufficient distance apart to allow the part 5 to loosely fit and work between the rear parts. The several parts of my rocking-horse are preferably made of hard tough wood, but they may be made of any other suitable material.

The front and rear parts of the body. are connected near the shoulders of the animal by means of a pivot pin or bolt 12, which passes through holes formed in the respec tive parts. The pivot pin 12 is preferably inserted through the part 5 just rearward of the flexible oint between the parts 2 and 5, and under this arrangement, the greater part of the front section or wing 5 is inclosed between the ends of the rear parts 8 and 9. The up er rear edge of the part 5 is raised at 13, anc upon this raised portion is mounted a saddle 14. The under side of the saddle is provided with a longitudinal groove 15 which receives an upwardly facing tongue 16 formed on the raised portion 13 of part 5, and by means of which the saddle may be ad justed or shifted toward or away from the pivot point 12. The saddle is held rigidly in place when set by a screw 17, a number of violes 18 being formed in the tongue 16, into either of which the screw may be driven to accomplish the adjustment of the saddle.

The feet of the rear part of the horse are rigidly secured to a pair of cross-bars or rods 19, by means of braces 20, which may be constructed and-applied in any suitable manner. The cross-bars 19 are mounted upon a pair of parallel rockers 21, which are shown to be round, but which may be square or otherwise suitably formed. 22 represents a pair of cross-bars to which the front legs or feet of the horse are secured the same as the rear ones. The bars 22 are mounted upon a pair of rockers 23 arranged oblique to each other, their inner ends spaced closer together than their outer ends, and these rockers are disposed between the rear rockers and at all times over lap the same. The front and rear rockers have the same curvature or radius, but when the front and rear parts of the animal are joined by the pivot pin 12 the rockers are not concentric. The center of the front pair of rockers is at all times forward of the center of the rear rockers.

To make my rocking-horse travel or pregress forward, the rider must threw his weight against the rear portion of the saddle, and at the same time he may pull backward on the bridle rein 24:. By this means the horse will be rocked backward until the center of bearing will be at the center of the rear rockers, as shown in Fig. 1. The backward movement being stopped by a spring buffer or stop 25 mounted on a rod 26 which passes through the rear cross-bar 19, the spring being disposed beneath the said bar. \Vhen he rocks the horse backward as described, throwing his weight upon the rear end of the saddle, the latter being mounted on the r ar part of the extension 5 some distance away from the pivot .12, will give him a. purchase or leverage, which, assisted by a slight pulling on the rein will effect the raising of the. horses head and the upward swinging of the front part of the body and the front rockers 23 to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the parts of the horse are fully extended The further stretching apart of the animal being prevented by a flexible strap 27 which is connected at its opposite ends to the frert and rear body parts. In order to effect a forward step or stride it is necessary to hold the body parts in extended position until the de vice is rocked forward, as in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by a stop disposed longitudinally underneath the body parts 2 and 5, which consists of two parts 28 and 29 pivotally connected at their inner ends, as at 2s, and a cross-bar 30 which is pivoted to the rear or free end of bar 29, and is adapted to engage a notch 31 in the lower corner of the rear side parts 8 and 9 each time the horse is stretched, as in Fig. 1. The stop is supported in operative position by a hargerbar 32, theupper end of which is rigidly set in the under edge of part 5, the lower en d passing through a slot in the center of the bar 211. A pin 33 disposed transversely through the lower end of the bar 32, holds the stop in place and permits it to rock upon the pin. This stop is pivotally hung off center ir order that the cross-bar 30 may beheld against the under side of the horse by gravity while the device is in either of the. positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. hen the rocking-horse is in 893,108 &

rest position, as .in Fig. 3, the stop appears tilted at a slight angle the inner end bearing against the under side of the rear parts 8 and 9 rearwardly of the notches 31, while the outer end 28 which acts as a counterweight has dropped downwardly along side of the front leg 3. When the body parts are extended, as in Fig. 1, the front parts 2 and 5 are swung upwardly on the pivot 12, and the stop being attached to these parts also moves forward until cross-head 30 engages the notch 31. The parts of the horse will then be held extended until it is rocked forward.

34 represents a release-rod loosely disposed on the inner side of the leg 3, being held in place by a loop or ring 35 which is attached to the said leg, and also by means of a similar loop or ring 36 attached to one of the cross-b ars 22. The lower end of rod 34 is fitted with a disk-like head 37 adapted to engage the floor and by means of which the rod is pushed upwardly each time the device is rocked forward. Rod 34 is employed to raise the outer end 28 of the stop, and its upper end is therefore disposed directly beneath the said part. When the horse is rocked backward as described, rod 34 by its own weight moves downwardly until stopped by a pin 37 which engages the guide loop 35. In this position its lower end extends an inch or more below the underside of rockers 23. The downward movement of the rod permits the outer part 28 of .the stop to gravitate away from the body of the horse, while its inner end 29 tilts upwardlyin position to catch in the notches 31: When the horse is rocked forward to the position shown in Fig 2, rod 34 is brought in to contact with the floor and is then pushed upwardly a sufiicient distance for its upper end to tilt the stop and disengage crossbar 30 from notch 31-. The rear part of the horse together with the rear rockers will then swing forward and close up with the other parts, and the animal will have progressed or traveled forward one step. By repeating the several operations and acts, as described, the horse may be made to travel ahead any desired distance. Each time the horse is rocked forward, its movement is limited by a buffer spring 39 mounted on a rod 40 which has a free bearing in one of the cross-bars 22. This rod has an enlarged head 41 which strikes the floor and also serves to hold the spring in place. A pin. 42 disposed near the upper end prevents the rod from becoming detached from the cross-bar by the force of the spring or otherwise. The buffer spring 25 at the rear of the device is arranged in the same manner as the one in front.

A number of traveling rocking-horses have been devised, which are capable of progressing or traveling ahead and some of them are also arranged to travel backward, but all of these so far as I am aware are arranged to travel in a straight course. i It is an object of the present invention to provide a traveling rocking-horse which may be made to travel ahead in a straight course, and also may be made to turn or deviate either to the right or left from a straight course. In other words, my device is so constructed that the rider may steer or guide it in a very simple manner, in a circuitous course't-ending either toward the right or left without dismounting or requiring alteration or adjustment of any of the parts of the device. To effect .the steeringor turning of my rockinghorse in either direction, all that is necessary for the rider to do is to rock the horse backward and extend or stretch the parts as shown in Fig. 1. Then while the device is in this position, he may pull upon the right bridle rein, with force enough to turn the horses head, and with it, all of the front parts including the rockers, to the angle shown by the dotted lines 43 in Fig. 4. He should continue to hold the rein taut until he rocks the animal forward. When the front rockers are brought to a firm bearing on the floor, they will point to the right to the extent of the angle shown, and by reason of the shifting of his weight to the front rockers, the latter will remain stationary on the floor until the rear parts come forward and the device closes up. In closing up, the rear parts will swing around to the left until they become in line with the front parts and the whole device will have made a slight deviationor turn to the right. By repeating these operations a number of times, the horse may be made to travel in a circuitous course. If the rider pulls on the left rein when the de vice is extended, as described, the front parts will be turned in the direction and to the extent shown by the dotted lines 44, and w ment of the front rockers oblique to each other, permits of the turning of said rockers in either direction laterally without coming in contact or interfering with the front ends of the rear rockers. 49 represents a flat piece of spring steel which is disposed across the flexib e joint between parts 2 and 5, and between the hinges 6. part is to hold these body parts substantially in line with each other when they are at rest. The spring 49 also tends to swing or carry the rear parts around and bring them into line with the front part 2 when the horse is made to travel to the right or left. S ring 49 and also the hinges 6 are prefera ly embedded in the abutting ends of parts 2 and 5 by means of a kerf or slot formed vertically in said ends.

To convert my device into a sim le rocking-horse. The rider should rock t e horse backward and extend the front parts as The object of this shown in Fig. 1, until the stop catches in the l notches 31, then before rocking forward he should reach with one hand underneath the .horse and swing the part 28 outwardly on the pivot 28, as shown in Fig. 8. I11 this manner bar 28' is thrown out of reach or contact with releasing rod 84, and when the horse is rocked forward so that rod 34 is forced up- Ward by contact with the floor its upper end will miss bar 28 of the stop. As long as part 28 remains in its outward position, cross-bar 30 of the stop will be held in the notches 31 by gravity. Then to make the horse travel again or to allow it to close up as in Fig. 3. The rider should swing bar 28 inwardly in line with part 29 and rod 34 at the next forward rocking will tilt the stop and release cross-bar 30 from the notches 31 and the body parts will close up.

Obviously some changes or modifications may be made in the parts of the device, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the precise construction and arrangement as shown and described herein.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. The herein described rocking figure com prising front and rear parts, means to secure said parts together for relative movement, a set of rockers for each part, the rockers of one set being arranged oblique to each other and With their nearer ends disposed between the rockers of the other set, and means permitting of movement of one set of the rockers in a horizontal plane.

2. A rocking horse comprising front and rear relatively movable parts, one of said parts being hinged for lateral movement with respect to the other of said parts, and a set of rockers for each of said parts.

3. Atraveling rocking horse consisting of a body, comprising parts relatively movable laterally, means whereby one of the parts of the body may be so moved with respect to the other to cause the horse to travel in a lateral direction, and means for automatically causing the laterally movable parts of the horse to assume positions in substantially the same vertical plane after lateral movement thereof.

4. A rocking horse comprising front and rear parts, a horizontal pivot to connect the parts for independent movement in a vertical plane, the front part being hinged for lateral movement with respect to said plane, and a set of rockers for each of said parts.

5. A rocking horse comprising front and. rear parts pivoted together for movement toward and from each other'in a vertical plane, a set of rockers for each part, locking means carried by one of the parts for cooperation with the other part to prevent approach of the parts toward each other during one phase of operation of the horse, and automatic means to release said locking means at another phase of operation thereof.

6. A.rocl ing horse comprising front and rear parts pivoted together for movement toward and from each other in a vertical. plane, a set of rockers for each part, andautomatic locking means carried by one of the parts for cooperation with the other part to prevent approach of the parts toward each. other, and means to release said parts.

7. A rocking horse comprising front and rear parts pivoted together for movement toward and. from each other in a 'ertical plane, a set of rockers for each part, gravity S0 operated locking means carried by one of the parts for cooperation with the other part to prevent approach of the parts toward each, other, and a reciprocating rod to release said locking means.

' 8. A traveling rocking horse comprising relatively movable parts and whose back is provided with a longitudinal rib, a saddle for the horse having a groove to receive said rib, and means for securing the saddle to the horse at various points in the length of therih afore-' said.

9. A rocking horse comprising front and rear parts, a set of rockers for each of said parts, a pivot for connecting said parts for operation toward and from each. other in a vertical plane, automatic gravity operated locking means carriedv by one of the parts for cooperation with the other of the parts to prevent approach of the same toward each other, means to release said locking mians, means under the control of the rider of the horse for rendering said releasing means inoperative, the front part of the horse being composed of two sections hinged together so that one section may be moved laterally with. respect to the other, and means cot'iperating with said sections tending to maintain the sections in the same plane.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SYLV ESTER SPAIN. I

Vitnesses:

E. C. WRIGHT, HARRY DE WALLAoE. 

